MTR Signalling Work Faces Two-year Delay

The MTR Corporation says work to install a new signalling system on the Island Line will not be completed until 2021, two years later than originally scheduled.

The corporation revealed the delay in a paper to the Legislative Council. It said later that the delay was due to the fact it wanted to conduct more tests on the system to ensure its reliability. It made the decision after studying local conditions and how the system was used abroad.

The Island Line is one of eight across the network that are earmarked to receive new signalling technology as the MTR seeks to restore its once-pristine reputation for reliability and offer more frequent train services.

Signalling on the network has been under the spotlight in recent years due to a number of breakdowns, most notably in October last year, when delays of up to 40 minutes hit four lines on the same day.

Work on the signalling replacement began in 2015, but progress has been slow as it can only be carried out when the lines close for the night.

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